Oscar didn’t get much sleep. He woke at 6:30 He showered and shaved. He went down to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. But he never drank it. At 9:00 he went to see his lawyer.

“Ok Oscar, calm down tell me again what happened.” Again Oscar conveyed the story to his attorney.

“Don’t worry Oscar. We’ll get them back, you adopted them the adoption was legal. They can’t just take them away from you, plus you’re blood related.”

“How do I get them back from Jaime and Steve though?” Oscar asked

“Let them have their fun. It will be short lived. The hearing is day after tomorrow. Don’t worry Oscar you will walk out of the courtroom with your children.” The lawyer assured him.

Oscar left the lawyers office feeling a little better he went home He almost hated to be there though the house felt so empty especially for a Saturday.

It was the second Saturday in December. He went out to the garage to retrieve the gifts he had bought only a week or so before. He carried them into the house and started wrapping them.

After they were wrapped he went back out to the garage and got the bike he had bought Joey. He carried the box into the house and opened it up. He dumped the contents onto the floor. He grabbed his toolbox and started assembling the bike.

It was 7:00 that night when he realized he hadn’t eaten anything all day. He went out to the kitchen and opened the cupboard but staring him in the face was the box of lucky charms and all the other items that the kids liked. He slammed the door and ran upstairs.

Again he slept in the twin’s room using Danny’s pillow and Joey’s blanket.

At Steve and Jaime’s house the kids were having their own problems. Joey wouldn’t eat at all. And Marc and Matt spoke only to one another in that strange language of there’s.

Jaime was clearing off the table for dinner, when Steve walked into the kitchen. “It will all be over with on Monday. The lawyer called the hearing is set for Monday. I hope things straighten out by then.”

“Me too, I just wish the twins would talk to us. Have we upset them that much?”

“No I don’t think so. They’ll be fine once everything is done. Even Dan is having trouble. Although I don’t think it’s about this. He kind of blew up at Rudy last night. He informed both of us that he was a kid. Steve observed.

They all sat down to dinner. Steve looked around at his ‘family’ and smiled “So Dan, how was your day. Did you do anything?”

“No I just messed around in my room Col Austin.”

“Look Dan, you might as well get used to calling me Dad.” Steve corrected.

“I would really rather not sir.”

Steve looked over a Marc and Matt. “How bout you two, you’re mother says you played outside most of the day. Did you have fun?” Steve asked.

Matt and Marc only looked at each other.

“WHEN CAN WE GO HOME? I WANT DAD.” Marc said

“MMMME T T T TO “ MATT RESPONDED. Matt’s stutter had gotten bad again.

“I THINK…”

“STOP that right NOW!!” Steve banged his fist on the table. Don’t you kids understand we only want what’s best for you?”

Joey got up from the table and ran upstairs. Jaime found him hiding under the bed “Its ok honey daddy didn’t mean to get so mad.” She tried to comfort him.”

“I want my daddy. I want my daddy now.” Joey cried.

Steve had just entered the room. “I’m right here son.”

Joey looked up at him his blue eyes stared daggers “Your not my daddy “ He spat out.

“Well I am now.” Steve said. “So you better get used to it.”

Oscar woke up it was Monday morning he really couldn’t remember what had happened to Sunday. He got up out of the twin’s beds where he had slept every night since Jaime and Steve had kidnapped them.

Slowly he got ready for court He met his attorney inside the courthouse “We have a problem Oscar. Col. Austin has accused you of child abuse and child endangerment.”

“What!” Oscar’s voice could be heard all over the courthouse.

“Sh. let’s just go in and see what happens.” He escorted Oscar into the courtroom. Steve Jaime and Rudy all sat on one side of the courtroom.

Oscar took his place with his lawyer.

The Judge walked in. “I want to get this case resolved today. I want my docket clear for the holidays. Are all parties present?”

Both lawyers stood. “Yes your honor.” They said

“Then let’s get started.”

“Yes your honor Joe Thompson. I represent Mr. Goldman.”

“Your honor Bob Whitman, I Represent Col Austin.

“Ok Whitman go ahead.” The Judge instructed.

“Yes thank you. Your honor this is a case to determine the custody of four orphaned children. Up until a few days ago they have been residing with their uncle who has adopted them. My clients feel they can do a better job raising these children. We ask the court to grant them custody. Let them be raised in a two parent home.”

“Mr. Thompson anything to add?”

“Yes your honor. My client adopted his sister’s children two months ago now. As the law states in a family adoption there is not waiting period. My client’s late sister wanted he brother to finish raising her children. That’s why they asked me to appoint him as their legal guardian.

“Ok Mr. Whitman, your first witness please.”

“I call Steve Austin.”

Steve took the stand. When the judge saw how close he was to the famous astronaut he just about turned summersaults on the bench.

“Tell us Col. why do you think you are better suited to raise these children than the father they already have?” His lawyer asked.

“At first I thought Oscar was a great father. He seemed to put the children first. Then after Marc’s accident it changed. Oscar abuses Marc. He sends him out on dangerous missions for the government.”

The judge stared at him. “What kind of missions? If I’m not mistaken the child is only seven.”

“Well there is a reason but I am not able to reveal that at this moment.” Steve said. “It’s a matter of national security.”

“I understand “ The judge said. He looked at Oscar and shook his head.

“All I can say your honor” Steve continued “is that it puts Marc’s life at risk. I will not allow that to happen.”

The judge looked that Whitman. “Any more questions?”

‘No your honor.”

“Ok Thompson your up.”

“Thank you your honor. Col Austin, did you have permission to remove the children from the home where they were very happy?”

“NO”

“Are they happy now?”

‘We are working on that.”

“I would assume they are not happy then.”

“Not at the present time no but they will be alright.”

“They will be alright living away from the only link the there true family? My client is not only their adopted father he is also their biological uncle.”

“Well then maybe he should have thought about that before.” Steve told the lawyer.

“Any more questions Thompson?”

“No your honor.”

“Whitman anymore witnesses?”

“No sir.”

“Fabulous. You’re up Mr. Thompson’

“Yes your honor. I call Mr. Goldman.”

Oscar took the stand. “Oscar do you love your children?”

“Yes”

“Would you ever put any of them in harms way”

“Absolutely not.”

“Spare the show. Just answer yes or no.” the judge barked.

“No”

“No more questions” Thompson said.

“Great. Ok Whitman your turn.”

“I have no questions.” Whitman said

“Great. I’ll rule on this case right now. Col Austin the children are yours.”

“No” Oscar screamed he turned to his lawyer who could only shake his head. “Do something.”

“Mr. Goldman please sit down or I will have you removed from this court room.”

On the way out Steve and Jaime walked ahead with the kids. Rudy walked beside Oscar. “At least now you’ll need his permission before you send Marc anywhere.” Rudy pointed ahead to Steve. “And chances are very unlikely you will get it.”

“Don’t count on it.” Oscar withdrew a gun from under his coat.

“Hey Steve” he shouted Steve turned around and Oscar aimed and shot hitting Steve in the center of the forehead. Jaime screamed and Oscar Shot her as well in the same place

Rudy ran to both of them. He searched for a pulse on both and found none. He turned to Oscar “Oh my god Oscar, you killed them.”

Saturday December 13, 1975

Oscar sat bolt upright in bed. Sweat rolled down his face. His heart was racing and his breath came in short shallow gasps. He looked around. He was in his own room. Rudy was standing in the doorway. “Are you alright? I could here you yelling clear down the hall.”

Oscar didn’t answer. He just sat there trying to catch his breath.

Rudy slowly made his way toward Oscar. “Oscar just lay back take it easy.”

“No Rudy I’m ok. Really it was just a bad dream.”

He got out of bed and went to the kid’s rooms. He first checked Danny’s room Danny was fast asleep. A book lay across his chest and his glasses were still on his face. Oscar removed them and placed them on the table by his bed.

Things were beginning to clear for Oscar as he entered Marc and Matt’s room. He remembered Rudy mentioning that he had moved Matt back to his own bed. Matt must have gotten up, as he was back Marc’s bed. Oscar gently lifted him up and he placed him back in his own bed.

He checked Joey’s room last. Joey had fallen asleep as usual clutching his teddy bear.

Rudy was standing outside Joey’s room when Oscar came out. “Want to talk about it?”

“In a minute Rudy.” he went to the hall phone and dialed Steve and Jaime’s number.

“Who are you calling?” Rudy asked.

“I’m Calling Steve and Jaime’s house.” Oscar said as he lifted the receiver.

‘Why are you calling them? It’s three in the morning. Oh they are going to love you.”

After about six rings a sleepy Steve answered the phone.

“It’s three in the morning, this better be good.” Steve grumbled.

“Steve! Thank God you’re all right! Is Jaime alright?” Oscar said into the phone.

“Oscar, is that you?” Steve asked, “What’s going on?” By now Jaime had joined him in their hall where the phone was kept.

“What’s going on Steve?” She asked.

“I don’t know.” Steve told her.

“Was that Jaime, is she alright?” Oscar asked again.

“Oscar Jaime is fine too. Do you mind telling us what’s going on? I hear Rudy, is something wrong? Are the kids ok?”

“Yea the kids are fine. Look it’s to hard to explain on the phone, could you guys come here please?”

“Give us about 15 minutes.” Steve told him.

“Steve, what’s wrong?” Jaime asked after he had hung up the phone.

“I don’t know, he sounded desperate He wants us to go out there.” Steve explained.

“Ok I’ll go get dressed.” She went into her room to get her clothes on.

When they arrived at Oscar’s. Oscar and Rudy were sitting in the kitchen. “What’s Wrong?” Steve asked after he and Jaime had sat down and Rudy poured them a cup of coffee.

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me till you two got here. I think he had a bad dream or something.” Rudy explained.

“Bad dream. That’s putting it mildly,” Oscar added. “It was a nightmare.”

“Do you want to tell us about it?” Jaime asked.

“I don’t know if I can.” Oscar stated. “I’ll try.” He started to relay the dream to them. When he came to the end he hesitated just a bit.

“Go on Oscar” Rudy urged, “You have come this far.”

“Well” he began. “I shot you.” He looked at Steve then to Jaime. “Not only did I shoot you, I killed you. It was awful, that’s when I woke up.” He again turned to Steve and Jaime. They weren’t even blinking.

Rudy finally broke the silence. “Well if I had had a nightmare like that I would have called them a three in the morning too”

“Wow!” Steve interjected. “That was some dream. Oscar you know we would never try and take the kids away from you. I mean they are super great kids. And yea sometimes I wish I had kids as great at they are, but we know how you feel about them. If I had kids as great as yours and you tried to take them away from me. I think I’d shoot you too. I don’t hold it against you.”

“My gosh, I mean it was so vivid. It seemed so real. That’s why I had to call you, I had to see if you were alright.” Oscar confirmed. “It is just so hard to shake it.”

“Well you’ll be alright in a little while. As the day goes on it will be less and less real to you “ Rudy assured.

“Well if you don’t mind, I really don’t feel much like going back to sleep.” Oscar told them.

They sat till dawn drinking coffee and talking.

“The part where I shot you haunts me, but what concerns me is what Danny said in the dream” He turned to Rudy. “We don’t push him to hard, do we? I know he’s smart and all, but maybe it’s to much for him.”

“Oscar let me reassure you. Danny does nothing for me that he doesn’t want to do. In other words, everything he works on for me he wants to do. In fact he gets upset some times over my rule that he has to do at least one half hour of homework before I even tell him what I want him to work on. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll talk to him this week.”

“I’d appreciate that Rudy I don’t want him to go through Marc and Matt went through.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. Danny has a pretty level head. I can relate to him though. I was a pretty smart kid myself, kind of like Danny.”

“Good maybe you can have a talk with him on Monday.” Oscar suggested

“I will do that.” Rudy agreed.

At 7:00 Oscar got up. “I have to get the kids ready for school” He said as he headed for the door.

“Oscar you must still be dreaming, it’s only Saturday pal.” Steve said. “Let them sleep in.”

“It’s only Saturday?” Oscar looked at Steve as if he didn’t believe him.

“Yea,” Rudy confirmed, “it’s Saturday I think Danny was a little mixed up last night as well. He said he had a test in school today. He must have meant Monday”

“I guess I will let them sleep then.”

Jaime got up and started to fix breakfast. “There is one thing I don’t understand. Why is Rudy here?”

“He babysat last night I had to run into work for a while.” Oscar explained. “I tried calling you but no one was home.” Oscar added. “Since I knew it would be pretty late. I told Rudy to just plan on sleeping here in the guest room.”

“We went out to dinner.” Steve told him

“Yea” Jaime added. “I thought Steve was buying groceries and he thought I was. So old mother Hubbard went to the cupboard…”

Oscar and Rudy couldn’t help but laugh. They didn’t know it but the real nightmare was only a few hours away…

Later that Morning Rudy had gone home and Jaime was babysitting.

Oscar had to go back into work to finish up what he had started the night before. He got there about 11:00. At 12:30 the phone rang. He picked it up receiver. It was Gregory calling from the NSB

“Oscar. John Hopper escaped from prison about an hour ago.”

“You’re not serious Gregory.” Oscar shouted into the phone.

“I’m afraid I’m very serious. They just informed me. I called you as soon as I hung up. I have everyone looking for him. The first place we want to check is your house. We are on our way right now.”

“I’m on my way.” Oscar called Steve and told him to meet at his place.

Back out at Oscar’s house Jaime had just finished cleaning up from lunch. The kids were playing in their rooms. She took the garbage out to the trashcan behind the garage.

When she tried to get back in, the doors were locked. “Very funny guys. Now come on let me back in.” Jaime called through the door.

Jaime was shocked when John Hopper’s face appeared in the window of the door. He held up a gun and told Jaime that if she so much a jiggled the door handle he would start shooting the kids one by one.

Within minutes Oscar and Rudy arrived followed by Steve who came in his own car. Gregory and his men arrived within seconds after that.

“Jaime!” Oscar called “Where are the kids?”

“They are in the house. Oscar, Hopper is in there. He says if we try to get in, he’ll kill the children.”

Oscar turned to Gregory, “I’m leaving this one to you. How do you want to handle this?”

“Let’s find out what his demands are. I don’t want him to hurt the children.” Gregory looked at Oscar. “I have to be very honest with you Goldman, I have dealt with many hostage situations, but I have never dealt with one where children are involved.

“Like you said let’s find out what the demands are first.” Oscar tried to remain calm.

”Jaime how did you get out?” Gregory wanted to know.

“We had just finished lunch. I was cleaning up and wanted to empty the trash. So I went out behind the garage to throw it in the garbage. When I tried to get back into the house, the door was locked. I thought the kids were playing a game, then Hopper showed his ugly face in the window and told me if I so much as jiggled the lock, he would kill the kids one by one.”

“Did he say anything else?” Gregory wanted to know.

“No he didn’t.” Jaime informed him.”

Gregory brought out a megaphone. “Hopper we know you’re in there. Give up peacefully and we can talk.”

“There is not talk!” Hopper shouted from inside the house. “I will stay right here till I get what I want.”

“What do you want?” Gregory asked.

“I want Col Austin.” Hopper yelled from the house.

Steve grabbed the megaphone “Alright Hopper you’ve got me, now let those kids go right now!”

“You must think I’m stupid or something.” Hopper laughed. “I let the kids go and then you all leave. No way. “

“Well we’re not giving you another hostage.” Gregory informed him. Taking the megaphone from Steve.

“I will give you exactly one hour to hand Col Austin over to me, or I start eliminating these precious kiddies one at a time. Your hour starts now.”

Steve headed for the door. “I’m going in.”

“Steve no.” Oscar stopped him. “I won’t let you, we can think of something. He’ll kill you”

“If that’s the way it has to be.” Steve stated. “Oscar, I’m not going to let him hurt those kids. No way! In fact I will give you the same ultimatum Hopper gave you. You have 45 minutes to come up with a plan otherwise I’m going in.…” Steve shouted.

“No your not.” Gregory ordered. “Do you really think that once your inside he’ll let the kids go? Of course not his intentions are to kill you. And then he’ll kill the kids. If he hasn’t already.”

“What?” Steve asked

“Gregory’s right Steve.” Oscar sighed. Hopper has probably already hurt if not killed the kids by now. And now he wants you, I won’t hear of it.”

They stood on the lawn outside the house. Not really knowing what to do next.

“Maybe there’s another way in.” Steve said as he looked at the old Victorian style house. “These old houses were always built with hidden passageways that might even put you outside somewhere.” Steve looked toward the old shed. “There could even be one through that old shed over there. We have to get hold of the blueprints somehow.”

Gregory was on the radio requesting that someone show up with plans to the house so they could try another way to get in.

After entering the house John Hopper, still wearing a cast on his foot from where Marc had kicked him. Clunked around the house rounding up all the kids. He forced all of the children into the living room.

“Now this will all be over with soon guys. As soon as Col. Austin walks through that door. I blow him away. Then I take care of you brats. Especially you.” He looked at Marc “I’ll teach you to break a persons leg.”

Matt and Marc started crying. Joey sat on Danny’s lap sucking his thumb.

“You won’t get away with it you know that?” Danny said to him”

“I don’t care.” Hopper informed him. “At least I’ll have the pleasure of seeing him dead before I go.” He stepped out of the room and went to the door. “You have fifty minutes Goldman.”

“This guy is more nuttier than Aunt Edie’s fruit cake we always get at Christmas.” Danny said.

“Yea,” Marc agreed. “I wish we could warn Steve “

“Wait, we can.” Danny stated.

“H how?” Matt wanted to know.

“Jaime is out there. She will be able to hear me. I’ll tell her what’s going on.”

Hopper came back into the living room “Funny.” He surmised.

“What’s so funny” Danny asked.

“Funny how they call this a LIVING room when this is where you are going to die.”

I don’t want you saying any more. You all keep your mouths shut. As I said it will all be over soon. Who knows I just might kill you guys first. It would be most humorous if Steve saw all of you dead before I kill him. Yes I do believe that’s a good idea.” He sat down in a chair and began spinning the chamber of the gun.

Outside contractor showed up with the blueprints to the house. They were trying to find another way into the house. “Maybe we could go in this way. What do you think Steve, Jaime?” Oscar was saying.

Steve looked at the plans. “I think it will work.” Steve stated “Jaime?”…

Jaime raised her hand and put her finger to her lips.

“Jaime it’s Danny, I hope you can hear me. We are all, all right. We are in the living room, Hopper closed the blinds so no one can see in.”

“What’s she doing Oscar.” Gregory wondered.

“Quiet Gregory, just one minute.” Oscar shot back.

“Tell Steve do not come in I repeat do not come in. He’s got about ten guns and enough ammunition to wipe out the city of NY. And he said he’ll blow him away the minute he comes through the door, then he’ll kill us. Marc you tell her you’re ok.”

“Jaime, it’s Marc, tell dad I’m fine.”

“M me t too” Matt said.

“Come on Joey tell Jaime you’re alright.”

“She’s not here.” Joey proclaimed.

Jaime stifled a laugh

“What’s so funny?” Gregory demanded.

Joey finally said, “I’m ok to Jaime.”

Jaime turned to Oscar. “Oscar the kids were just talking to me. They are fine.” She turned to Gregory “What was so funny was Joey.”

She turned back to Oscar. “Dan wanted all the kids to assure me that they were ok When he asked Joey to say hi to me Joey said He couldn’t cause I wasn’t there.”

Oscar gave a slight laugh. “So what do we do?”

”You can’t send Steve. Danny said he’s all set to kill him the minute he walks through the door. He also said that he would then kill the kids. Steve it’s not worth it. We’ll have to find another way in. I just hope nothing happens in the mean time.”

Inside the house the clock was ticking. Hopper sat in a chair cleaning his gun. “Why is he doing that?” Marc asked Danny.

“I g guess h he want t to k kill us with a c clean g gun.” Matt suggested.

“Who knows “ Danny said. “I’m telling you the man is loony tune city.

“I told you kids to be quiet. Hopper said. He opened the chamber to the revolver he was holding. He took out the three bullets that were in the chamber counted them replaced them then set the gun down on the table. He clunked his way across the room to where his coat was to gather up the rest of the bullets He picked up a handful and put them in his suit coat pocket.

Then he walked over to the front door he called through it. “Your time is up. My only problem is, which one to I kill first? Do I go oldest to the youngest, or reverse.

Out the lawn Steve started for the house. “I’m not going to let him do it. Don’t try to stop me!”

Hopper turned around. Joey was facing him; he had picked up the revolver and was aiming it straight at Hopper.

“Come on kid give me the gun.” Hopper said. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a five-dollar bill. I’ll give you this if you give me the gun, ok?”

Joey didn’t blink. He pulled the trigger and fired hitting Hopper in the chest. Hopper fell over backward and so did Joey.

Outside Steve had just stepped on the bottom step, when they all heard the gun shot. It was exactly one hour since Hopper had given them the deadline.

“Run you guys!!” Danny shouted to he twins. Danny looked down at Hopper, he picked up Joey and they all ran out the front door.

They almost knocked Steve down as they ran down the steps.

Oscar seeing all four of his sons run outside ran to them. “What happened we heard a shot?” Oscar inquired.

“Joey shot him.” Danny said.

“What?” Gregory asked

“You heard right Gregory, Ole Joey here shot him, I think he’s dead. Joe got him right in the chest.”

“Goldman you stay here with your family. Austin you come with me.” The two of them went into the house followed by Rudy. Sure enough Hopper was lying on the floor though he wasn’t dead.

Gregory went over to him. “Steve, better call an ambulance if he lives long enough for it to get here.”

Rudy bent over him. Hopper opened his eyes. “I’m sorry…” He closed his eyes and was gone.

Rudy, Gregory and Steve walked out of the house. Oscar who had been holding Joey handed him to Jaime who was standing beside him. “You boys stay here” He told the older boys.

“Is he dead?” Oscar asked.

Rudy nodded.

“I don’t want Joey to know about it. He’s only four. I don’t know how a kid as young as him will handle something like that. Plus I don’t want anything to push him into being autistic again.”

“Oscar, Joey’s autism comes from eating peanuts nothing else.” Rudy assured him.

“I don’t want to take any chances.” Oscar affirmed.

“Don’t worry” Gregory was saying. “No one here will ever bring it up. The record will read the one of my men shot him.”

“Thanks Gregory.” Oscar said.

“Why don’t you guys stay with us tonight?” Jaime suggested. “That house is huge. There is plenty of room. Gregory has to write up his report, I’m sure it will take a while to remove the body and all.”

“Thanks Jaime, I think we will.” Oscar got in his car and backed it out into the driveway.

“We want to ride with Steve!” The twins shouted as if nothing had happened.

“Well that’s fine.” Oscar stated, “That is if it is alright with Steve.”

“Oh it’s fine, they can ride with me. Do you want to pack some clothes to take with you?”

“I never thought of that. Yea I’ll go pack some things for us. I hope Gregory lets me into the house.”

Gregory and his men were swarming all over the place. It took Oscar a few minutes to locate him.

“Do you mind if I go get some things in the house. I’ll go up the back stairs. The kids need some extra clothes, and Joey won’t sleep with out his bear.”

“Go ahead Oscar, I know you won’t disturb the crime scene.”

“Thanks.” Oscar slipped into the house through the back door. He went up to the kid’s rooms. As he roamed from room to room, his nightmare came back to him. There was a checker game set up in the twin’s room.

Oscar shook his head to clear the image from his mind he really didn’t care to remember the last part.

He quickly threw some of the kid’s clothes into suitcases then went back downstairs.

Steve took the suitcases and loaded them into the car for Oscar then turned to the twins. “Ok guys hop in. the bus leave in two minutes.”

They giggled as they got in the back seat. “Get those seatbelts fastened” Steve told them

Steve got in the car and started driving the short distance between Oscar’s house in Arlington, to his and Jaime’s house in DC.

The twins sat in the back they were talking to each other.

“I B BET HE W WON’T T TELL US.” MATT SAID

“WELL IT WOULDN’T HURT TO ASK, HE SAID WE COULD ASK HIM ANYTHING.” MARC SAID.

“YEA, W WELL HE S STILL W WON’T T TELL US.”

“What are you guy talking about back there? I thought your dad said you were supposed to use English all the time.” Steve scolded.

“G go ahead ask him.” Matt urged.

“Ask me what?” Steve was very curious.

“Well.” Marc began “You said we could ask you anything, right?”

“I remember saying that.” Steve said.

Matt motioned to his brother to continue.

“Well we have a question.” Marc hesitated.

“Ok go ahead. Ask away.”

The twins looked at each other again. “Well we were wondering something.” Marc continued.

“This must be pretty serious “ Steve observed.

“It is.” They said together.

Marc started again. “We were wondering, where do babies come from?”

Steve slammed on the break. “He looked in the back seat. “You want to run that one by me one more time Marc?”

“S see I t told y you he w wouldn’t t tell us.” Matt said.

“Listen guys. I meant what I said. You can ask me anything, but I think that question is best left up to your dad to answer. Ok?”

The twins giggled. “I guess you’re right Steve” Marc said.

“I T TOLD Y YOU H HE WOULDN’T T TELL US.” MATT SAID.

“I KNEW IT TOO. I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT HE’D SAY.”

When they got to Steve and Jaime’s house Jaime was already in the kitchen. She was fixing dinner for everyone. Oscar sat at the table keeping her company.

“You guys go play or something.” Steve told the twins. He walked into the kitchen and sat across from Oscar. “I think you better have a little talk with the twins. You know I told them they could ask me anything.”

“Yea, I know that, they told me.” Oscar said.

“Well on the way over here they asked me THE question.” Steve informed him

“What’s THE question?” Oscar

“The big one.” Steve tried to be discreet

“I don’t understand.” Oscar stated taking a drink of coffee

“Ok” Steve looked at Jaime, who gave him a smile “I guess I’ll have to be blunt. They asked me where do babies come from?”

Steve ended up wearing the coffee. After Oscar sprayed it across the room.

“You’re not serious, are you pal? They’re only seven.”

“I told them they needed to talk to you about that one.” Steve explained.

“I appreciate that. I’ll have to talk to them I guess.” He got up from the table and went upstairs to where they had set up one of the guest rooms as their own for the night.

“I understand you two have some questions you would like answered.”

“Yea we want to buy Steve, Jaime and Rudy Christmas presents, will you take us shopping tomorrow?”

“Yea, I can do that. Did you have another question though?’

“Oh yea” Marc said. “We wanted to know where do babies come form?”

“I think you guys are just a little to young for that question. I’ll tell you when you’re a little older, ok?”

“Ok” they said together.

Marc turned to Matt ‘Want to play checkers?”

“Yea” Matt answered.

“We’ll go shopping tomorrow afternoon ok? How much money do you have?”

They looked at one another. “We don’t have any,” They said.

“Well I guess I’ll help you out a bit.” Oscar smiled and ruffled their hair before he left the room. He walked into the room Steve and Jaime said he could use.

It was a big house; it had six bedrooms, so there was plenty of room for everyone. Jaime had demanded that each room be all set to go as guest rooms before they ever moved in.

Oscar emptied his pockets then changed into a dark blue gym suit; He went back downstairs to the kitchen everyone was sitting at the table but Joey. Oscar went to get him.

Joey was just coming through the living room when Oscar found him.

“Daddy” He began showing Oscar the picture he had in his hand. “Who is this?”

Oscar took the picture from him. It was one Julie had sent him last year in a Christmas card the year before. It was of Julie, Tom and the kids.

Oscar picked him up and sat him on his lap. He pointed to Danny. “You know who that is don’t you?”

“yea, that’s Danny, Marc Matt and me. But who are they?” he said pointing to Julie and Tom.”

“You don’t know who they are do you?”

Joey shook his head.

Oscar’s mind raced back to a conversation he had had around Thanksgiving with Danny. Danny had told him that he didn’t think Joey remembered their parents at all. Joey had been sick until only a month ago.

Oscar realized now that Danny had been right.

“Son, they are your parents.” He pointed to Julie. “That was your mother, and” He pointed to Tom. “This was you father.”

“No!” Joey cried shaking his head again, “You are my daddy.”

Oscar looked up and saw Steve, Jaime, and the other kids standing in the doorway. Jaime was crying.

Oscar turned to Danny, “You were right son. He has no memory of your parents. Maybe it’s for the best, I don’t know.” He set Joey down on the floor. “Matt, Marc take him out to the kitchen and you guys go ahead and start eating.

“Ok dad, no problem.” Marc answered.

Steve and Jaime sat on the couch; Danny sat in the chair next to his dad. “Danny told me at Thanksgiving when we were having all that trouble with Marc and Matt. He said that he was handling things ok, and as for Joey, he didn’t even think he remembered them.”

Oscar continued “I mean when they came to live with me back in September, Joey was so withdrawn. Well until just a few weeks ago we were going under the assumption he was autistic. “I don’t know if it is a good situation, or bad. I don’t know how much I should tell him.”

“I think that Joey will work it out in his own mind as he grows older.” Jaime assured. “I don’t see any reason in telling him right now. It may be more than a four year old can handle right now. Either the loss of his parents or realizing he doesn’t remember them. Believe me, I know all about that. Just let it, rest for now. That’s my advice anyway.”

“Dad, I think Jaime is right. I think that in the long run Joey will remember mom and dad, maybe one day the twins and I can tell him. When he’s older.”

“I guess you are right.” Oscar sighed. “We should probably join the other kids for dinner.”

...Continued